An Italian appeal court yesterday slashed a jail term for an Ivorian immigrant in the 2007 sex murder of British exchange student Meredith Kercher from 30 years to 16, the Ansa news agency reported.

Rudy Guede's sentence is now far shorter than those of the two other accused in the case, American Amanda Knox and her then Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, who were convicted on December 5 in a separate trial.

"I'm not happy because I am innocent," Mr Guede said as he left the courtroom.

Ms Knox was jailed for 26 years and Mr Sollecito for 25.

Mr Guede, who turns 23 on Saturday, had opted for a "fast-track" trial in exchange for lenience.

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